WASHINGTON — A leaked draft of a Pentagon document suggests that Russia is working on an underwater thermonuclear torpedo.
First reported by the Washington Free Beacon, the project — codenamed "Kanyon" by the Pentagon — was conceived to target coastal areas, naval bases and sea ports. The weapon is believed to operate autonomously, the New York Times reported, citing officials. Russia reportedly refers to the device as "Ocean Multipurpose System Status-6".
According to Popular Mechanics, the weapon operates like a drone. It has a range of 6,200 miles, can dive to over 3000 feet and travel at 100 knots (around 115 mph). The warhead measures 5.5 feet wide and is 79 feet long, reported Popular Mechanics, citing submarine expert H. I. Sutton.
The device can also wield a 100 megaton nuclear payload and reportedly has the radioactive isotope Cobalt-60, meaning area struck by it would be dangerous to humans for around a century. It is being tested by the Russian Navy on a Sarov-class submarine which carries it on its pressure hull, reported Popular Mechanics.
First reported by the Washington Free Beacon, the project — codenamed "Kanyon" by the Pentagon — was conceived to target coastal areas, naval bases and sea ports. The weapon is believed to operate autonomously, the New York Times reported, citing officials. Russia reportedly refers to the device as "Ocean Multipurpose System Status-6".
According to Popular Mechanics, the weapon operates like a drone. It has a range of 6,200 miles, can dive to over 3000 feet and travel at 100 knots (around 115 mph). The warhead measures 5.5 feet wide and is 79 feet long, reported Popular Mechanics, citing submarine expert H. I. Sutton.
The device can also wield a 100 megaton nuclear payload and reportedly has the radioactive isotope Cobalt-60, meaning area struck by it would be dangerous to humans for around a century. It is being tested by the Russian Navy on a Sarov-class submarine which carries it on its pressure hull, reported Popular Mechanics.
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